Malware research group spins off from Harvard

By staff and wire services reports

January 27th, 2010

A research organization that tries to warn computer users about programs that do sneaky things on their computers has spun off from Harvard University, reports the Associated Press. StopBadware says it will operate as a standalone nonprofit organization with funding from Google Inc., eBay Inc.’s PayPal, and Mozilla, which makes the Firefox web browser. It was initially set up as part of Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society. StopBadware issues what it calls “badware alerts” about corporations whose applications do what the organization deems unwanted and harmful things to users’ computers. The organization also targets purveyors of spyware and other forms of malicious software. The idea is to warn users before they access a site with such a program. The Firefox browser, for instance, has used the StopBadware list to power some of its built-in security tools. The list also is meant to pressure companies to change their tactics. The group, based in Cambridge, Mass., said it decided to break off from Harvard because it had grown beyond its roots as a research project…